Polyacrylamides: The Secret Sauce in Efficient Energy Extraction
Polyacrylamide polymers are special, water-soluble materials made from small building blocks called monomers. Imagine polyacrylamide polymers as 100,000 people grabbing a 100-mile rope from Austin to San Antonio, Texas, to play tug-of-war. In scientific terms, polyacrylamide polymers are extremely long molecular chains consisting of acrylamide and other co-monomers. These polymers have an ultra-high molecular weight, up to ~25 MDa. Their long chains allow them to grab onto a lot of water, making them useful in many applications, including enhancing oil recovery.
Enhancing Oil Recovery
Getting oil out of the ground isn’t always easy. Traditional recovery methods like water flooding often leave a lot of oil behind due to:
- Capillary forces trapping oil in small pores.
- Heterogeneous formations causing oil to be bypassed.
Polyacrylamide polymers help by thickening the water due to their long chains, even at low dosages. This increased viscosity helps:
- Push capillary-trapped oil out of pores.
- Ensure uniform sweep of mobile oil from previously bypassed zones after water flooding.
Increased oil production also means reduced water treatment demands, making field projects more economic and sustainable.
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Reducing Frictional Pressure Loss in High Throughput Pumping
In high throughput pumping, the flow pattern of water becomes turbulent as flow rates increase, consuming large horsepower. This was once a limiting factor in hydraulic stimulation. Polyacrylamide polymers reduce frictional pressure loss caused by turbulent flow. Their long chains stretch along the water streamlines, mitigating the formation of micro-eddies and turbulences in pipes. This can reduce frictional pressure loss by up to 80%, making polyacrylamide polymers essential in high throughput pumping for hydraulic fracturing of unconventional shale or tight oil and gas assets.
At Sterling Specialty Chemicals, we are committed to leveraging innovative solutions like polyacrylamides to enhance energy extraction efficiency and sustainability. Discover how our expertise can help drive your success in the oil and gas industry.
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